People, at least most of us, are a worrisome bunch by nature. We often get concerned about common things as well as things specific to our individual lives.
So what worries us? What concerns us?
Generally, it could be our health, our family, our jobs, our safety, our homes, our friends and even things like our pets, our faith and whether we remembered to take out the garbage on the proper day.
According to a recent worldwide survey, the top five concerns around the globe last year were COVID-19, unemployment, poverty and social inequality, financial and political corruption and crime and violence.
That’s pretty heavy stuff.
Still today, 37 percent say the coronavirus is one of the biggest issues facing their country. The recent omicron variation spike certainly has fueled that fire. In all, 83 percent of those surveyed still place COVID among their top concerns.
Locally, we’re battling more cases than ever – by a wide margin – which is a concern to many of us. We all need to do what we can to nip this thing in the bud once and for all!
It’s also understandable that unemployment, poverty, political corruption and crime rank so high around the world. After all, who wants to be affected by any of that, personally or professionally?
I know I don’t.
And one side note … it’s still almost unfathomable to me that so many people don’t want to work these days and that many who do don’t possess a strong work ethic. What’s wrong with us?
Anyway, let’s turn to the United States and a recent poll conducted by The Associated Press. The lead to the story about that poll stated that heading into a critical midterm election year, the top political concerns of Americans are shifting.
The AP combined forces with the NORC Center for Public Affairs to conduct the poll. According to the story, results indicated the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the record number of cases, is beginning to recede in the minds of Americans and is being replaced by worries about our economy, personal finances and inflation.
Sixty-eight percent of Americans mentioned the economy as a top concern in some way – or about two out of every three of us. And about one-quarter of us – 24 percent – list personal finances and their cost of living as something in which to be worried.
Of course, with consumer prices rising 7 percent in the last year, those increased worries are understandable. That consumer price hike – or inflation rate – is the largest in 39 years. That means I was a strapping young man of 21 years the last time things were worse on that front.
We’ll have to see which direction that arrow points in the months ahead, but just about the last thing any of us needs right now is higher expenses as we try to make ends meet with everything else going on.
Continuing to look at what worries us, Inc. came up with a list of the top 10 fears that hold us back.
Whether they’re on your “list” or not, we’ve all probably thought about these in one way or another at some time.
On the top of its list is change.
A lot of people dislike the thought of change so much they sit in their own little box and watch the world go by. After all, there’s comfort in comfort.
Change can be good – if it’s positive change – and thinking outside that box can, indeed, be a good thing. Yes, however, a lot of times that can be easier said than done.
Next is loneliness – something I really don’t like very much but really don’t worry too much about at this juncture of my life. But, being lonely can be a powerful thing to overcome.
To drive that point home personally, I can’t imagine what life would be like without my wife or family or friends. I’m a people person and so many people mean so much to me.
Ranking third is failure. If you truly care about who you are and what you do – whether on the job, at home or elsewhere – how can you not think about this one? Even the most confident of people, if they’re being honest, probably worry about their success.
Rejection comes in next. Who wants to be rejected? Who wants to be left out of the “in crowd?”
Not me.
After rejection is uncertainty – which can be pretty scary. Faith comes in pretty handy when dealing with this one, as it does with all of these.
To continue, we also worry about something bad happening, according to Inc. That’s pretty vague, but it’s understandable. I personally know of no good person who really and truly wants something bad to happen.
Getting injured is next. Yep, that’s no fun, either. Just ask my still torn meniscus.
After that comes being judged. If you’re bold enough to put yourself out there for something you believe in, including doing something different (see “change” above), and people judge you poorly for it, well … we want to crawl back into our little corner of the world.
Inadequacy is the next fear. Take that however you want, but the thought of being inadequate at anything certainly can hold people back and cause great fear.
Finally, Inc. lists loss of freedom. Most of us take our freedoms for granted. The thought of losing some or all of them can, indeed, be pretty worrisome.
So, where are you in all this? What are your fears? What are your concerns? What are your worries?
I know what mine are, and sometimes I let them get the best of me.
My hope is that as we all get settled into 2022, we focus on the positive, be there for each other, take time to notice the good around us and allow our great God to be in control.
One more time, happy new year!
And, as always, thanks for reading.
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